Parents of baby in Juan Karlos' Tarlac gig speak up about viral video

After Juan Karlos went viral for expressing concern for an infant he spotted at a gig in Paniqui, Tarlac, the  parents of the baby are finally breaking their silence, saying they actually went to the Tarlac show for the baby, who is always soothed by Juan Karlos' music.

Speaking to GMA News Online, Niel Patrick Tubino and his wife Fyan first clarified their baby, Fiyana, is already 7 months old.  

“Sabi ng netizens, 2 months lang yung baby namin," Niel began. "Hindi siya 2 months. Mag-8 months na siya."

They also showed their footage of the same concert, where the "Ere" singer can be heard reading out loud the banner they were holding up: “Kahit isang karga lang mula sa pinakabata mong fan, Kuya JK.”

Niel shouted to the OPM singer: “2 months pa lang, kasama ka na nito!” It was this statement that earned the reply “two months!?” from JK.

An OPM fan

Her mom, Fyan, said her daughter has been a fan of JK since she was just 2 months old.

“May magandang song si JK na narinig ko sa ‘Senior High,’" she begins. Upon learning the title of the song, she quickly looked for it on YouTube, where their baby heard "Ere.’”

The song proved soothing for her baby, which became her lullaby.

“Naalala ko iyong sinabi ng pedia sa akin na ‘music can soothe babies, music can calm them, can make them relax.’ So 'di ko naman in-expect na doon sa song na ‘yon ni JK, doon siya ma-re-relax. Every time na mag-pe-play ‘yon, napapansin kong tumatahimik siya,” the first-time mom said.

“Kasi si baby namin, very iyakin," Fyan added. "So noong pinagtugtog ko ‘yong 'Ere,' bigla siyang tumahimik tapos hinehele ko, nakatulog. Noong paulit-ulit na ‘nong narinig namin, ginawa ko na siyang pampatulog. Nakita namin na tumatahimik siya once iyon na ‘yong song,” she added.

Aside from “Ere,” Fyan also said that her daughter also loves other songs of JK like “Tapusin Na Natin To,” which features Ben&Ben’s Paolo Benjamin.

“Nakikita namin na kapag iyon ang tumutugtog, tumatahimik siya, na-re-relax talaga siya," the 36-year-old mom said, adding they actually tried introducing things like Cocomelon to Fiyana but “umiiyak siya. Ayaw niya. So ibabalik namin siya kay JK tapos doon siya tatahimik."

Fyan admitted that some people question her child’s liking of “Ere” as it has inappropriate language for a child, but she explained that it was the only song that would “calm” her baby.

“Siyempre alam naman natin na yung mga baby 'di pa nila alam yung words,” she explained, adding that she wouldn’t let her listen to the song if her daughter knows the meaning behind it.

Aside from JK, Fiyana is also a fan of other OPM artists such as December Avenue, Ben&Ben, and Lola Aamour.

So when Fyan, a Tarlac native, heard that December Avenue and JK would be playing their town in Paniqui, she took the opportunity to go, so her daughter could see and hear them live.

According to Fyan, they arrived at the venue at around 10 p.m., just before JK’s much-awaited performance. Fiyana was already fast asleep. "Si Fiyana kasi, the louder the music, the better she sleeps, so ‘nung naririnig niyang may tumutugtog na, unti-unti na siyang nakakatulog,” she explained.

When JK began his performance, the parents tried to get his attention with their banner, and only finally became successful just before he went down the stage.

He read their banner out loud, and showed his care and worry to the baby who was crying.

The couple explained that their baby crying because she was surprised by the “squeals” from the crowd.

“Kaya sabi ni JK umiiyak si baby kasi si mister ko tinataas niya bigla si baby, tapos nagugulat siya sa mga tili ng tao sa paligid, kaya umiiyak. Hindi dahil hindi siya komportable or naiingayan,” they said.

They also debunked claims saying JK carried their baby in his arms to soothe her: “Kaya niya kinarga si baby kasi ni-request namin na makarga niya. Hindi dahil sa gusto nya. Hesitant kasi siya talaga."

According to Fyan, "sabi ko, kahit isang karga lang. Tas nung binuhat na niya, dun tumigil si baby."

Fyan also shared that JK signed their baby’s feeding bottle and even invited them backstage.

On netizens’ reactions  

The couple also addressed the issue concerning their baby’s safety saying they were just following their doctors’ suggestions.

“Yung anak namin, makikita mo makapal ang buhok. Suggestion din ng doctor niya na 'wag maglagay ng [bonnet] kasi baka 'di naming mapansin at matuyuan siya ng pawis,” Niel said.

“Bakit wala siyang medyas? Alam naming pawisin siya kapag walang air-con. Yung mini-concert sa Tarlac, outdoor concert ‘yon. 'Di namin siya pwedeng balutin, kasi mamamawis siya,” he added.

Niel added they were also accompanied by three supervising adults, one whom is a doctor.

Debuking claims that they are using their kid to get noticed by JK, Niel said they wouldn’t know about the singer if it weren't for his daughter. In fact, they wouldn’t have gone to that concert if not for their daughter.

“Personally, at bilang nanay, hindi ko ‘yon gagawin dahil lang trip ko si JK,” Fyan shared.

Whlie they don't really care for haters and bashers, Niel reminded netizens to stay vigilant online because “hindi lahat ng nakikita is ayun 'yung totoo.” 

After what happened, Fyan learned how to ignore the comments from people who had “no bearing” in their lives.

Despite what happened, the couple is still grateful to JK for making their daughter happy. 

“Thankful at binigyan nya ng airtime si baby. Napagbigyan niya kaming parents. Core memory ‘yon at balang araw makikita ni Fiyana na sa edad niyang ‘yon nakarga siya ni JK na super idol nya. Maaaring malimutan agad ni JK ‘yon pero sa amin, sobrang tatatak ‘yon. Kaya thankful kami sa kanya,” Fyan said, adding that they would love to meet JK again but this time in a “more comfortable and conducive place” for their baby. 

Juan Karlos recently went viral after he expressed concern for an infant he spotted at a gig in Paniqui, Tarlac. — LA, GMA Integrated News